Spearhead from Space: Episode 1

Although my earliest recollections of first watching Dr Who are of Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee's was the first I watched regularly and so I consider him "my Dr Who". Although almost as eccentric as the memorable Troughton, he brought more stylishness, scientific nous, physicality (his famous karate chops would develop in time) and, through his travels in his vintage car "Bessie", sheer mobility to the part. I was so disappointed when he left in 1973 (plus I was incidentally growing up at the time), that I never watched a single Tom Baker episode and still haven't to this day, only catching up again for the Peter Davison regeneration.

This first Pertwee adventure made for a great introduction with the memorable menace of the Autons, it's little wonder that their breaking out of shop windows as activated mannequins rates so highly in the list of scariest scenes in the whole history of the show. At 10 years of age, it scared me and obviously resonated with Steven Moffat who since has created danger out of other inanimate "human" objects, such as statues and most recently, snowmen.

It would have been nice to see an actual regeneration scene between the two Docs, plus it takes a while for Pertwee to appear and dominate scenes, but given that this afforded us time to get reacquainted with the redoubtable Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart and new assistant Liz Shaw, it's not a great loss.

The story is well-paced and the idea of replacing politicians in power with alien copies is one that would be used again in the Moffat era. Yes, the climax with Pertwee engaging (I'm being polite) with a rubber octopus is about as realistic as Adam Batman West's similar encounter with a shark in the 1966 movie, but everything else is good and boded well for the new Doctor's more earthbound adventures for the next few years at least.

(Note: This is a review of all four episodes of the story.)

January 1970 found the start of a new era of Doctor Who and the stage was set for a new beginning. Spearhead From Space, the first story of the 1970 season, proved to be just that and more. It was a story of many firsts from the first appearance of the third Doctor (played by Jon Pertwee), to the first episodes made in color to the first appearance of the Autons, Spearhead From Space set the standard for which the Pertwee era would be judged.

The story finds the Doctor exiled to late twentieth century Earth (it's hard to get much more specific but we fans do try) by his own race as punishment for interfering in the affairs of others (the final Patrick Troughton story The War Games) in the midst of a meteor shower. With the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) investigating, the newly regenerated Doctor comes back into contact with its leader Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and the newly recruited scientist Liz Shaw. Together they investigate the meteors, the strange orbs they left behind, and their apparent connection to a factor making plastic mannequins. It all leads to an invasion by the collective mind of the Nestene.

Jon Pertwee slips in the role of the Doctor with so much ease that, like Tom Baker in 1974's Robot, it is sometimes hard to believe this is his first story. All the hallmarks of his Doctor are here from the classic combination of shirts and capes to gadgetry and classic cars. Backing him is the ever impressive Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier for the third time (having played the role in the Troughton story's The Web Of Fear and The Invasion) and Caroline John as Liz Shaw. John plays Liz well and makes a very believable scientist and it's a shame she was only in the four stories of this season. The supporting cast of Hugh Burden and John Woodnut as the men who run the factory plus Hamilton Dyce as General Scobie and Neil Wilson as a trapper make for as fine a cast as the show ever had. Robert Holmes' script plus the direction of Derek Martinus and the music of Dudley Simpson helps to create a taught and suspenseful opening for the Pertwee era. The Autons are one of the series' best creations one of the worst nightmares come true: shop window mannequins that come not just to life but kill you as well. While their controller, the Nestene creature, looks very unconvincing, the Autons and the other elements of this story make it one of the very best stories of the series.

With strong performances from the cast backed by Robert Holmes' script, the direction of Derek Martinus and the music of Dudley Simpson, Spearhead From Space is more then just Jon Pertwee's debut story. It is a taught and suspenseful science fiction yarn that nightmares are made of.

Jon Pertwee's debut as the Third Doctor coincides with Robert Holmes introducing the Autons for one of only three television stories they would be prominently featured in (if I recall correctly, they are the only three they would be featured in, period). Ah, Robert Holmes. Always good to see that name at the start of a story, isn't it? In many ways this was the first story in which he really showed his knack for creating solid dialogue and characterization as well as keeping the science fiction, horror, or adventure plot fresh every episode of the story ('The Krotons' was average and 'The Space Pirates' is missing, but apparently not a hidden classic based on reconstructions). I don't want to give any of the plot away but it will suffice to say that the Autons are really bloody good villains, and so is the intelligence behind them, the Nestenes. There are some pretty violent scenes in this story and I remember being very scared upon watching this story for the first time when I was five or so, which is always good in a Doctor Who story.

It was ingenious to actually have Doctor Who villains who are ACTUALLY made of plastic within the confines of the story, and one of the reasons this doesn't seem particularly dated. The character of the Third Doctor is brilliantly introduced over the course of this four parter, as is Liz Shaw, and there is also some excellent character development for the Brigadier. The story was shot on film rather than video for some reason and does look fabulous and is directed well.

Episode 1: 7/10 Episode 2: 8/10 Episode 3: 8/10 Episode 4: 9/10

Overall: The average rating amounts to 8 out of 10 stars, but I will give it an 8.5 out of 10 overall.

Honestly go watch all 4 parts you will fall in love with Pertwee's doctor. 9/10

Obviously listings like this on here are for fans, so these are just personal thoughts.

I wasn't aware of this being shot on film, I just kept thinking how great it looked. Now I know of the technician strike. I'm sure they got their issues worked out, but certainly a wonderful side effect.

It appears the strike itself was referenced in the episode in this dialog:

"HIBBERT: We're turning over to automation, General. It means we can keep staff down to a minimum. SCOBIE: Splendid. Don't get machines going on strike, eh?"

I've watched a lot of Who, starting with PBS in the 80s, and rather liked Pertwee, but never saw this one. It's comical to me personally that my reaction to Tennant's intro was that he was knocked out most of his first episode. Well, there certainly was precedent-- this very serial, where Pertwee is in a coma for half of it!